Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • World War One: History in an Hour

  • By: Rupert Colley
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
  • Length: 1 hr and 22 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (362 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

World War One: History in an Hour

By: Rupert Colley
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Love history? Know your stuff with History in an Hour.

World War One brought with it the world’s first experience of Total War, involving all of the world’s great powers, polarized between the Triple Entente, lead by Britain, France and Russia, and the Central Powers, dominated by Germany and Austria-Hungary. Around 9 million men lost their lives in a conflict that introduced the horrors of trench warfare, machine guns and toxic gas attacks.

WORLD WAR ONE: HISTORY IN AN HOUR gives you a clear overview of the road to war, the major turning points and battles, and the key leaders involved, as well as the lasting impact the Great War had on almost every country in the world. WORLD WAR ONE: HISTORY IN AN HOUR is essential reading for all history lovers.

Love history? Know your stuff with History in an Hour…

©2012 Rupert Colley (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

World War Two: History in an Hour cover art
The Cold War: History in an Hour cover art
The Russian Revolution: History in an Hour cover art
Stalin: History in an Hour cover art
Nazi Germany: History in an Hour cover art
Hitler: History in an Hour cover art
1066: History in an Hour cover art
The Afghan Wars: History in an Hour cover art
The American Civil War: History in an Hour cover art
1914: History in an Hour cover art
World War II in 50 Events cover art
World War II Stalingrad: A History from Beginning to End cover art
The Vietnam War: History in an Hour cover art
The Reformation cover art
Ancient Egypt: History in an Hour cover art
Napoleon - In a Nutshell cover art

Critic reviews

‘If the past is a foreign country, History in an Hour is like a high-class tour operator, offering delightfully enjoyable short breaks in the rich and diverse continent of our shared past’ Dominic Sandbrook

‘The practice of History is ever-evolving, and the History In An Hour idea brings it back up to date for the digital age’ Andrew Roberts, Bookseller

‘This is genius’ MacWorld.com

What listeners say about World War One: History in an Hour

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    233
  • 4 Stars
    98
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    209
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    200
  • 4 Stars
    69
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

World War 1 in an hour

Very good book i enjoyed it very much, to have all the important information about how and why it broke out was good and if I had a younger child who was doing a essay on WW1 I would use the book as a reference

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Does what it says on the tin.

I'm not a historian but had a fair knowledge of WW1. This gives a good overview but skips some of the potential controversies (Was the Lucitania civilian? Was the Mexico memo planted? etc.) that I had heard elsewhere. However, parts like the Paris taxis I had never heard of.

I do get a bit annoyed that the general recounting moves chronologically but in fact the specifics are done nationally or geographically. It can be strange to go from the story of Paris 1914-1917 to America 1915 (not accurate figures). Not sure how else it could be done though...

Overall for the cost and the quality of the narrating voice I would say this is worth a listen. If you find bits interesting and want more depth then pursue them in other books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A good overview.

"World War One: History in an Hour" is a quick little summary of the conflict flawlessly narrated by Jonathan Keeble.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A worthwhile listen.

An amazing short look at a long and horrific, but still very interesting time in human history.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly written, brilliantly executed!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would. The subject is presented in such a way that you can organise the events in your mind and gives an overall understanding of a complex subject

What other book might you compare World War One: History in an Hour to, and why?

The Second World War in One Hour. There was a lot of background information that I didn't know of which was never incorporated into lessons at school.

Any additional comments?

Jonathan Keeble is very easy to listen to - he speaks slowly and distinctly in a melodious accent which helps to keep you attention. No irritating intonations! The author offers different viewpoints and doesn't gloss over the many mistakes that were made by all sides. He also gives interesting background to all the characters involved in decision making in the War

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

world war one

most families lost loved ones during both wars,my family in the second.its a very subjective issue has to what soldiers orders, on going over the top ammounted to in terms of loss of lives against ground gained

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One hour well spent.

Very good and short insight into world war 1 and it’s key participants. From how it started to its end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This is excellent!

Any additional comments?

I'm extremely fussy when it comes to audio books and I have returned many that I didnt like. There is no chance this will be getting returned. Well done!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Concise review of WWI

A good summary for those wanting an overview of WWI. Creates a foundation for further reading

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

A really good synopsis of WW1 with varied historical facts and references. Worth listening to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!